Black Bear Film Festival 2023
Main Stage Films, Saturday Film Salon, Sunday Extension Salons
Main Stage Films at the Milford Theater
Friday, October 13
6:00pm Red Carpet Reception
7:30pm - Sympathy For Delicious
Drama - 96m
Directed by Mark Ruffalo - Written by Christopher Thornton - Starring Christopher Thornton, Laura Linney, Juliet Lewis and Orlando Bloom
When a motorcycle accident leaves up-and-coming DJ Dean O’Dwyer paralyzed, he abandons his turntables for the world of faith-healing.
Saturday, October 14
9:30 am - Short Film Block - Coming of Age Collection 103m
Demon Box 14m
Directed by Sean Wainsteim
After festival rejections, a director revises his short film into a painful, blunt and funny dissection of the film and his life.
Negative Space 15m
Directed by Jeonghui An
A job seeker, who has spent three years looking for a job, reconciles with a gap in her resume and a personal gap in her life.
ENTIRETY One’s Fulfillment 27m
Directed by Sumedh Madhukar Jadhav
Extremely poor Addu is required to make a Kandil (lantern) for a class project but can not afford the materials.
The Countryman 21m
Directed by Andy Kastelic
Bitterness threatens to destroy a small farming community until a stranger arrives with a curious proposition.
Say “Czesc” 16m
Directed by Nata Onysh, Veronika Shuster
Due to war with Russia, Misha must flee Kyiv to a small Polish town, where he struggles to adjust to his new reality.
The Old Young Crow 12m
Directed by Liam LoPinto
An Iranian boy befriends an old Japanese woman at a graveyard in Tokyo.
11:30 am Hayseed Drama - 1hr 45m
Directed by Travis Burgess
A small town church congregation is under investigation after their reverend is found dead.
1:45 - Lakota Nation vs United States
Documentary - 2h
Directed by Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli - Executive Producer Mark Ruffalo
A chronicle of the Lakota Nation’s fight to reclaim control of the Black Hills and an investigation into how sacred land was stolen in violation of treaty agreements.
4:30 pm - Short Film Block - Character and Casting Collection 64m
Introducing Billy Bradley
Drama Short 14m
Directed by Michael Charles Roman
A chance meeting with a Broadway legend and a life altering diagnosis finds a former child actor forced to decide: save his life or revive what’s left of his career. Based on actual events.
A Thousand Times A Day
Drama Short 16m
Directed by Chantelle James
Natasha loses her son in a tragic drowning and blames her brother, Jeremy. Their relationship is shattered, but they both learn that their only chance of survival lies in forgiveness.
The Sweet Taste of Freedom
Drama Short - 34m
Directed by Matthew Penn
A man facing a long prison sentence has 48 hours to put his life in order.
6:15 pm - Make Me Famous and 8:00pm After Party at Forest Hall Studios (Movie & Party Ticket Required)
Documentary - 93m
Directed by Brian Vincent
A madcap romp through the 1980’s art scene amid the colorful career of painter, Edward Brezinski, hell bent on making it. Brezinski’s quest for fame reveals an intimate portrait of the art world’s attitude towards success and failure, fame and fortune, notoriety and erasure.
Followed by onstage Q & A with Director, Brian Vincent and Producer, Heather Spore
9:00 pm - Creep Show Collection 98m
The Wyrm of Bwlch Pen Barras 17m
Directed by Julien Allen
Early one winter morning, in the rural town of Rhuthun in North Wales, three men are called upon once again to carry out a terrible assignment on the Bwlch Pen Barras mountain pass.
Firebrand 13m
Directed by Rhett Bradbury
Following a bitter argument with his abusive girlfriend, blue-collar gearhead, Theo, embarks on a journey towards self harm, resulting in a dire confrontation with his inner demon.
They Come Back 9m
Directed by Zack Wilcox
Two long-time friends go into the woods in the hope that a lost loved one returns. Made in Northeast Pennsylvania.
HAIR 13m
Directed by Dannie Sinisi
After losing a wig competition, a talented hairdresser becomes obsessed with creating the perfect wig and goes on a killing spree to secure the ultimate hair donor.
The Two Gamblers 10m
Directed by V.Q. Holliday
Two gambler friends just don’t know when to quit.
Above The Staircase 13m
Directed by Dennis Sema
While home alone one night, a man grows increasingly disturbed by a pair of mysterious black shoes that seem to move on their own.
Night Voices 23m
Directed by Bradley Hawkins
A jaded radio host in a cycle of hopeless and demoralizing monotony makes a life-altering decision while on air.
Meet and greet with local filmmakers immediately following in the festival tent
Sunday, October 15
9:30 am - NEPADOC
Documentary - 1:26
Directed by David S. Heineman
A documentary that explores the intersections of environment, industry and identity in Northeastern Pennsylvania over the past 300 years, blending 4K cinematography, local historical footage and a sweeping score into a contemplative meditation on culture, place and public memory.
11:15 am - Forty Years in a Box Documentary - 81m
Directed by Shira Levin
Opening a box of 40 year old 16mm film leads the filmmaker on an unexpected path into an exploration of time, aging and self-acceptance.
Followed by a Q&A with Director, Shira Levin, hosted by John DiLeo
1:30 - International Film Collection
Moles 15m
Directed by Vanja Victor Kabir Tognola
Anna, Francesco and Giorgio hide at home and fake a Bahamas vacation
Where it Begins 24m
Directed by Mohsen Asdaghpour Amirhoussein Talebi
With the company of his cat, Homeira, Ebraam is now an agent of justice.
Past Lives
Drama, Romance - 90m
Directed by Celine Song
Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrested apart after Nora’s family emigrated from South Korea to the United States. Twenty years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny.
3:30 pm - Award Announcements
Festival Tent, light refreshments
4:00 pm - John DiLeo Presents
Time After Time Sci-Fi Drama - 1h 52m
Directed by Nicholas Meyer
Starring Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen
Mixing thrills, comedy, romance and fantasy, Time After Time is a standout film from 1979 you should have seen but probably didn’t!
H.G Wells (Malcolm McDowell) has built a time machine and he plans on using it to travel to a Utopian paradise in the future, but before he can, Jack the Ripper, on the run from police, uses it to escape and travel to 1979. Wells follows and enlists the help of a bank teller named Amy (Mary Steenburgen) to catch Jack before he continues his killing spree.
Followed by film discussion led by John DiLeo
SATURDAY FILM SALON
Located at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
110 W. Catharine Street, Milford PA
10:30am Short Film Block 73m
Appreciation 20m
Directed by Michael Dwyer
A documentary detailing the life of Tomiko Morimoto West, a Hiroshima bombing survivor who talks about her life before, during, and after the war and her one wish she desires for the world.
Half Mast 8m
Directed by Ryan Dellaquila
After his dog dies, a firefighter is determined to give his beloved pet a proper sendoff.
Hoagie 3m
Directed by Michael Du Vide
A comedy film about loss and the spiraling madness in Scranton Pennsylvania.
The Curtain Call Gang 27m
Directed by Bryon Jones
In the late 1800s, a gang of three sharpshooters discover a horrific secret hidden within a small town of Dayvul Valley
Pearly Gates 15m
Directed by Loring Murtha
A married couple have their lives interrupted when their aunt comes to stay with them and turns out to be a bigger trouble maker than they imagined.
12:00pm Short Film Block 74m
Seventeen 15m
Directed by Gegi Li
A young teen gets pregnant and wants to keep the baby, while her pornstar mother insists on having an abortion. The two realize they may have more in common despite their conflicting wishes for themselves.
Wherefore Art Thou 16m
Directed by Diane Cossa
A retelling of the classic “Romeo and Juliet” through the perspective of an elderly woman and the different time periods of her life.
Loves Baby Soft 14m
Directed by Laine Zipoy
A teen and her babysitter face through the hardship of their teen years during life in 1976
In The Gray 15m
Directed by Paul Robinson and Sashia Dumont
Three sisters lose their estranged father to murder and have different points of view while coping with his death.
You and Me 14m
Directed by Natalia Shaufert
Two women are brought together through loneliness and failed relationships to begin a shared journey of sharing a child together.
2:00pm Short Block 61m
Shahroor 15m
Directed by Yafa Ezzat Shahroor and Mo’men Ghanim Hasanain
A documentary of a young middle eastern girl talking about her father’s influence on her passion for storytelling and life since his passing.
Head Eaters 15m
Directed by Pedram Gharehbaghi
An unsuspecting man gets invited to dinner with a strange group of people without realizing what their appetites truly crave.
JHVH 13m
Directed by Judit Kocsis
A young girl wants to break free of the restrictions of her religion enforced and have her own chance at fun with the other kids at school.
BrownWhite 10m
Directed by Ruchama Ehrenhalt
An exploration into how skin color influences children and their view of the world and what it means in their society.
Lake of Dreams 4m
Directed by Axel Wener
An experimental film about a man fixated about his dream woman that explores his feelings through dance.
Natira 4m
Directed by Joshua Marquez
Two brothers must fight off an evil that’s chasing them if they wish to live another day.
3:30 pm Student Film Block 59m
A Familiar Face 4m
Directed by Antonia Georgieva
A girl haunted by a past man in her life seeks out the help of a therapy pig that helps her confront her crippling anxiety.
Homegrown 17m
A filmmaker documenting the memories and stories of his family owned farm and what future lies ahead for the farm.
On Slauson 9m
Directed by Anali Cabrera
A young man reaches a turning point in his relationship with his mother when she discovers the double life he leads.
Virus 4m
Directed by Annie Otto
After accidentally downloading a virus onto her computer, Sam transports into her computer to face the digital invader herself.
Sanctuary 25m
Directed by Morgan McCall
A young girl sent to a halfway house to find some peace of mind discovers the horrors living in the walls of the house.
4:45 pm Student Film Block 64m
Death In Normandy 4m
Directed by Leo Kahn
A stop motion about soldiers battling and fighting for their lives during WWII.
Listen 4m
Directed by Casey Schaffer
An experimental film exploring the communication barriers in today’s modern world and what it means to listen to someone in this day and age.
Stained Red 3m
Directed by Megan Sechrist and Quinn Starrett
When a woman is tasked with going on an undercover date to retrieve owed money, she lands herself in a speakeasy, and a lot of trouble.
The Girl Who Feeds The Ducks 8m
Directed by Troy Costlow
A teenager tries to impress a girl he's only seen while she's feeding the ducks.
We 45m
Produced by students of The Homestead School
6:00 pm International Short Film Block 73m
Game Over 28m
Directed by Saeed Mayahy and Miriam Carlsen
A documentary following a group of teenage boys from Afghanistan currently living in Turkey and their journey trying to get into Europe in hopes of a better life.
Treasure By The River 12m
Directed by Hanjie Bao and Manting Huang
A young teen explores her town and asks for the help of the people there as she tries to find her grandmother’s precious bible.
Tenant 16m
Directed by Antonia Georgieva
A writer living in a cramped apartment with his landlady grows more paranoid with each passing day about his living situation.
Somewhere to Stay 15m
Directed by Amirhoussein Hatami
Concealing a devastating secret about his daughter, a father has told everyone she is missing, while pretending to search for her alongside his son
Sunday Extension Salons
11:00 am and 1:00 pm - Grey Towers National Historic Site
Located at 122 Old Owego Turnpike, Milford, PA
A Sense of Wonder
Documentary - 55m
Directed by Kaiulani Lee, Cinematography by Haskell Wexler
An intimate portrait of America’s most successful advocate for the natural world, Rachel Carson, screened in The Bait Box at Grey Towers at 11am, and again at 1pm, with light refreshments.The grounds are available for free self-guided tours to take in the sense of wonder of the birthplace of America’s conservancy movement.
2:00pm Triversity Center - Short Film Block
Located at 201 W. Hartford Street, Milford PA
Wendy 11m
Directed by Maren Lavelle
A quiet but imaginative eighth grader attempts to find the courage to approach her secret crush while working on a middle-school production of Romeo & Juliet.
Roundabout 10m
Directed by Vinny Anand, Ronald Austin Jr.
When a finance all star walks in on a scandalous scene involving his boss and trans sister, he’s thrown into a world of turmoil as he confronts his own values and beliefs.
Your Next Door Neighbors 8m
Directed by Ana Jimenez
Grandma is coming to dinner and Rosa wants her to see the best of her family, but as a series of events reveal their quirky and dysfunctional secrets, she must learn to accept them to have a perfect night of bliss.
Friend of Dorothy 2m
Directed by Megan Sechrist
Two young ladies in the 1960’s reveal they are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, also known as,“Friends of Dorothy'', in the 60’s and deal with prejudice towards members of the community in that time.
To All That We Are 5m
Directed by Kristian Cahatol
Two non-binary college students explore their journey of life through accepting themselves and how their identity shapes the world around them.
3:00pm
Columns Museum
608 Broad Street, Milford PA
Foundation Room
To Serve Man
The classic episode of The Twilight Zone derived from a story by one time Milford resident Damon Knight
In the 1950's, Milford was the place to be if you were a science fiction writer! The Milford Writers Conference was co-founded by Knight, James Blish, Virginia Kidd, and Kate Wilhelm.
They were all writers in the genre originally referred to as Futurians and all went on to become famous in their own right. Kidd started the Virginia Kidd Literary Agency, which is still operating right here in Milford. Blish, Knight and Wilhelm are heralded authors who boldly led the way for their peers in those early days and influenced generations of Science Fiction writers.
Admission is free. Cash refreshment bar.